Welcome 2008!

There are a few lingering days of 2007 to enjoy, but I'm taking this opportunity to wish all my readers a happy new year! Thanks for reading and commenting in 2007, which has been a remarkable year for so many reasons. There are many exciting things happening in 2008 as well, and these are some of the things I look forward to, God willing:

1. Marrying Henry sometime during the summer and getting a new last name. Stay tuned for an actual date. Who knew that finding one would be so complicated?

2. Establishing a new home with Henry.

3. Going on vacation--with Henry!

4. Beginning the college search process with Katie as she enters her senior year (small tear).

5. Eighth grade graduation for Jonathan and then high school (small shudder).

6. Continuing in my work at Discovery House and learning more and more about editing and book publishing from my editing hero, J.

7. Finding out which two candidates get their party's nomination and hopefully seeing a true Republican become president.

8. Standing next to Jonathan, looking in the mirror, and seeing that he is taller than I am.

9. Stepping on the scale in a few months and seeing that I weigh significantly less than I do now. (There--I put it on my blog. Now everyone must hold me to it.)

10. Significantly reducing the clutter that fills way too much space in my current home.

And, of course, continuing to publish riveting accounts of my personal life here on Head and Heart and looking back at this post next year on December 31 and realizing, yet again, how very much I have to be thankful for.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust" (Psalm 90:1).

May you enjoy God's richest blessings of life, love, and happiness as you celebrate this coming new year!

Happy Birthday, Henry!

Unbelievable--the new man in my life not only has one of those dreaded, close-to-Christmas birthdays, it is the day after my dad's. And I will spend the rest of my life making sure that it isn't forgotten in the Christmas rush. Henry's birthday is definitely a day of celebration. And so here it is--my first birthday tribute to my fiance. (I really love typing that!)

1. His passion for God. One of the first things I knew was true of Henry was his love for God and his faithfulness to Him. We've had great theology conversations, and we've also had very down-to-earth talks about what it has meant for us to live out our faith in our lives. I'm still lobbying to come to his men's- only Bible study on Romans, but I don't think he's going to cave on that one.

2. He's a gentleman. Move over, Mr. Darcy! I have Henry, who, in all of our time together so far, has never failed to open a door for me, who brings me flowers (usually roses) every week, and helps me with my coat. He has always treated me like a lady, which makes me want to always behave like one (a good thing).

3. His musical ability. Early on when Henry and I were dating, a mutual friend told me that Henry had a great tenor voice, and while I knew from our conversations that he loved singing, I never really had an opportunity to hear him sing until last spring when we attended a conference together. I heard this amazing tenor voice during the congregational singing, and I kept turning my head to see if I could figure out where it was coming from. And then I realized--it was coming from Henry, right next to me. And I look forward to a future of singing with him at home, in church, and in choirs. I love it that we share this.

4. His love for simple pleasures. Going for a walk, looking at the moon, sitting by the lake watching ducks, and insects--Henry finds all of God's creation genuinely exciting and fascinating, which makes it exciting and fascinating to be with him.

5. His sense of romance. You'll just have to take my word on this one.

6. His love for Katie and Jonathan. He talks art with Katie, and I think he's using The Dangerous Book for Boys as an outline to bring Jonathan up to speed in "guy activities." He really understands and enjoys kids, and my two have learned this and know that he's a special person.

7. His kindness. Earlier in our relationship, I invited Henry over one Sunday evening. He couldn't come because he was having tea with an older lady in his church. And a couple of weeks ago when church was cancelled on a Sunday morning, he had quite a time helping an elderly lady get a prescription she needed. He can frequently be found visiting his sick friends from church, and he calls to check on them. He changes my light bulbs, shovels my walks, and is probably the nicest person I have ever known.

8. His great sense of humor and his appreciation of sarcasm. It's an essential at our house--sarcasm is just part of the fabric of our home. And here Henry fits right in. And it makes me feel good to know I've said something he finds funny and he laughs. It's a great laugh.

9. His integrity. Every word and action is carefully thought through, so that every word and action is meaningful and can be trusted.

10. He loves me and has asked me to marry him and has given me the most gorgeous engagement ring in the world (see December 24 post).

I am so blessed to have this wonderful man in my life! Happy birthday!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

My dad's birthday comes at what, unfortunately, is a time when it can easily slide through the cracks: December 22. We did actually celebrate his birthday on his birthday this year with dinner at LongHorn Restaurant, but with a poinsettia decorating his birthday cake, it was impossible not to think of that other big day that would soon be coming up. And so, here it is, December 26, and I just now have the opportunity to write his birthday blog posting. So here it is--the things I love most about my dad.

1. His love for and faithfulness to God. In word and deed, my dad has taught his children and grandchildren the importance of obedience to God. He taught us that it is important to understand what the Bible teaches and what we believe. It was from my dad that I first learned the doctrines of TULIP, setting me on the path of a Calvinistic faith from an early age.

2. His love for music. My dad loves to sing, so when his children showed an interest in music as well, he did all he could to support us. He taught me to be a good accompanist on the piano, and he made sure that I had excellent piano instruction all through high school. He would come home from working all day, pick me up, and then drive me to Bowling Green, Ohio, about a 45-minute drive one way, so that I could take lessons from instructors in Bowling Green State University's School of Music. And I still love playing the piano and singing today.

3. His thoughtfulness and kind treatment of others. My dad lives out his faith. He is always available to help someone in need, whether it's a struggling family member, a friend from church, or my kids and me. He may be replacing my furnace filter, driving an ill friend to an appointment, or making a color-coded schedule of Jonathan's classes for him to tape into his notebook. If there is something he can do, he will.

4. His good sense of humor and the way he makes us laugh (and takes it well). He teases Katie, spills food on his shirt at dinner, or plays his Taco Bell Taco Maker game, always making us laugh.

5. His strength. In a time of difficulty, there is something reassuring about having my dad around. In the brief time of my little sister's consciousness after her car accident, she was confused, in pain, and agitated at times. That was when we would call my dad in to calm her down, and it always worked.
He can also calm Jonathan like no one else. It's comforting to have someone with his strength around.

6. His sense of honesty and integrity. He has always set a great example of being truthful and fair with others.

7. His dedication and commitment to his family. After God, family comes next with my dad. He and my mom moved from the town where he had always lived in Ohio to Grand Rapids to be a support system for me, Katie, and Jonathan. And he's stepped up to be dad and grandpa at times for my kids. I love the special bond he and Jonathan, especially, share. And I love it that when Katie wants someone to teach her to drive, she turns to grandpa. He's definitely NOT the same man who taught me to drive.

8. He makes the best homemade ice cream in the world. Ice cream parties used to be a more common occurrence when I was a child, but I have many fond memories of family get-togethers where my dad supplied the big treat: homemade vanilla ice cream.

9. His emphasis on excellence. I'll never forget a conversation I had with my dad back in high school, on one of those long trips back from piano lessons. We were talking about my future, and at the time I was thinking of majoring in music. He told me that Christians truly had something to make music about, and that they should be the best that they could be in their service to God. It's stuck with me all these years.

10. He can fix anything. Or if he can't, he at least knows what is wrong and what to do about it.

Happy birthday to my excellent dad!

Favorites of 2007-continued

This beautiful ring has quickly become one of my favorite things of 2007. It lives on my left hand. Henry put it there, and there it shall always stay.

The Quotable J

I may just have to come up with a new blog category: quotables. I seem to be surrounded by wordsmiths, people quick to come up with a clever quip in just the right situation. Perhaps one day if I start my own publishing company, my specialty will be "quotable" books.

At any rate, it happened again today. My two "J" co-workers were marvelling at one of those strange letters submitted by a person who has entirely too much time on his hands. He was writing in response to one of our books, published years ago, that is just this side of going out of print. His criticisms included the CRC, RCA, PCA, Reformed in general, Baptists, Roman Catholics (particularly monks, which he used colorful language to describe), Freud, Machen, Bultmann--and that was just in the first two pages of his document.

At any rate, it gave us all several minutes of merriment (especially the comments about the monks), but we all agreed the document would best be filed in the circular, and it probably wouldn't do much good to respond to the author of the letter. He seemed to be fairly set in his theological opinions.

And that's when J offered up the first entry in what no doubt will one day be an enjoyable volume, an expression offered up in the spirit of "the lights are on but no one's home" observation: "He's a couple volumes short of a complete commentary."

There's nothing quite like good publishing house humor!

2007 Favorites

As 2007 dwindles down to mere days, I find myself reflecting on what has been, for me, quite an eventful year, personally and career-wise. I love those end-of-the-year top ten lists, so here is my own top ten list of favorite events, people, and moments of 2007, in no particular order.

1. Beginning my blog: What started on a cold January morning as an experiment in just how blogging works has developed into a full-blown blog. And there have been times during the year when I've loved it, and other times when I've simply endured it. And yet here I am, in December, still blogging away. I get to write, and once in a while, someone actually reads!

2. Going to Chicago on the train and seeing the musical Wicked with Katie and Jonathan. It all started out as a compromise: We would ride the train to Chicago like Jonathan always wanted, and he would come see a musical like Katie and I wanted. Everybody ended up a winner, and I ended up with a new favorite musical.

3. Going to NYC to the Book Expo with co-workers Melissa and Kevin. I truly felt like Tess in Working Girl as I was handed designer bottled water and fancy chocolates while we checked into our room at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. We saw a Broadway show and traipsed all over the city, shopping like crazy women (not Kevin--Melissa and I). Oh yeah--we attended sessions on the cutting-edge trends in book publishing as well and learned a lot.

4. Summer Sunday evenings on the patio with Henry, Katie, and Jonathan. These were the best, filled with fireflies, star and moon gazing, and mosquito bites. Ahhhhh. . .

5. Meeting Julia at Panera, talking away and drinking coffee, and realizing that a blizzard had developed while we visited. And I kind of wish we'd stayed there so the story would have been even better. What more could we need? Comfy chairs, indoor plumbing, lots of food--even a fireplace. Maybe we should revisit that this winter, Julia.

6. Attending the Philadelphia Conference with Henry. It was such a great experience to spend an evening and a day listening to some truly dynamic speakers talking about the power of God's Word. And I ran into some old friends from the Cedarville days, making the weekend complete.

7. Compiling and writing Better Than Life. It was such a great and sobering experience to research the contemporary persecuted church and to share these Christians' stories with other readers.

8. Going canoeing with Henry, Katie, and Jonathan on Labor Day. It was quite an adventure on the Thornapple River. Henry paddled, I helped a little, and Katie and Jonathan screamed at each other for several miles as we spent a late summer afternoon on the water.

9. Getting our first live Christmas tree this year. Henry and I went to the lot, picked it out, and then let it sit outside in the rain for a day so the gas fumes from the chainsaw that spilled on the tree could dissipate. After another day in the garage, our anti-Charlie Brown Christmas tree made its December home in our living room. And still every time we pull up in the driveway, someone comments that we have the best Christmas tree in the neighborhood.

10. I've saved the best for last: Henry. While we met in 2006, I think he'd agree that we discovered the treasure we had together this past year. He's my dearest friend in all the world, and watching the summer sky, walking around the neighborhood on a Sunday evening, going to the symphony, singing in the Zeeland Civic Chorus's production of Handel's Messiah--life in general--is just that much sweeter when shared with him.

May "the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands" (Psalm 90:17).

An Unexpected Journey

It has almost become a new genre in Christian biography--"telling my story." Young writers like Lauren Winner (Girl Meets God) and Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz) have made huge entries in the Christian book market (Miller especially) with their sometimes interesting, somewhat stream-of-consciousness, reflections and personal insights on becoming a Christian and their own experiences living the Christian life. The reader comes away with a pretty good understanding of who Lauren Winner and Donald Miller are.

In the last couple of months, I've had an opportunity to read two books that would land in the Christian biography category that have conveyed personal experience in a profound, insightful way that directs the reader back to God. One of those books was Things We Couldn't Say by Diet Eman, a woman who worked in the Dutch Resistance during World War II and spent time in prison for her efforts. It's an amazing story of courage and love, and I would encourage young women, especially, to read it and find another great heroine.

But another book that has left a wonderful impression is by W. Robert Godfrey, president of Westminster Seminary in Escondido, California. The book, An Unexpected Journey: Discovering Reformed Christianity, is a warm, personal look at his experience of embracing Calvinism and the Reformed faith. As a person who grew up in the Baptist church, finding the Reformed faith in my twenties, I connected immediately with the author's experience. It also helped that I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Godfrey this fall at Reformed Fellowship's annual meeting and heard him lecture about his passion, John Calvin. I was struck by Dr. Godfrey's genuineness, and while it is immediately clear that he is incredibly learned and intelligent, it doesn't prevent him from communicating on a very down-to-earth, personable level.

It is an interesting experience, coming from the "outside" to the Reformed faith, especially the Reformed faith of the Dutch variety. Dr. Godfrey grew up in California, and his parents were Methodists who only occasionally attended church. As a junior in high school, Dr. Godfrey met his "first Calvinist," a co-member of the high school swim team whose family were members of the local Christian Reformed Church. Reflecting on his preliminary reading, the author explains: "I believe that one particular part of Calvin's message appealed to me. It was the teaching of a great and sovereign God who was truly in charge of all things." God used these early encounters with a Reformed family and a Reformed church to form Dr. Godfrey into a man who now is a great scholar, educator, and minister in the United Reformed Churches.

And yet this book is not a high-minded, intellectual exposition on Calvinism. Godfrey sets out to give a personal account of what it is to be Reformed: "For too many, Calvinism has seemed either an intellectual exercise in theology or an inherited and often unexamined religious commitment. But as I have experienced it, Reformed Christianity is not simply an inherited tradition or an expression of intellectual theology. I believe that Reformed Christianity is the best, fullest form of biblical religion." This introductory claim is developed throughout the rest of the book as Godfrey explores different aspects of the historic Reformed faith, such as congregational life, Christian disciplines, and worship.

It would seem that the intended audience for this book would be those who want to understand what the Reformed faith is and what it means to be a Calvinist. But I thought as I read how helpful and encouraging it was to be a committed, Reformed Christian reading this book, being reminded of just how precious that faith is.

Michael Horton's endorsement on the back cover of the book sums it up well: "Although written in autobiographical form, this book is really about God. Regardless of one's theological background, any believer can read with great edification this hymn to God's grace in Christ."

And that is the significant difference in this contribution to Christian biography: Dr. Godfrey drives the reader back to God, His Word, and His truth and how blessed we are to live in the comfort of that truth. What a great gift to the church both Dr. Godfrey and this book are.

The Quotable Henry

At work, I've been helping edit a new book we'll release early in 2008: The Quotable Chambers. It's a huge book and a huge task, so I've taken a section of the manuscript to work on to help out my managing editor. Chambers, author of My Utmost for His Highest, definitely had a most quotable style, whether you like his theology or not. And his wife, Biddy, devoted herself to transcribing nearly every word the man uttered in his brief 43 years, so there's a lot of material to work with.

And yet my favorite person to quote these days is . . . Henry. While I haven't compiled enough to produce a book yet, it may be coming someday. But in the meantime, I'll have to share his witty, insightful one-liners as he allows me here on this little blog.

Some context: I was commenting on the irony that even though the "children of the sixties" see themselves as nonconformists and take a little pride in that, they usually, in the end, fall right into line. They support women's rights, hate any kind of rules, and like to see themselves as social activists, for example.I'll let you, dear reader, ponder that.

Henry's response: Sixties nonconformity, like teenage fashions, has woodenly predictable patterns.

Stay tuned for the Henry perpetual calendar and desk planner . . .

The Messiah

This week I will get to initiate what I hope will become an annual tradition for Henry and me. Since mid-October, he and I have been driving over to Zeeland on Sunday afternoons to rehearse Handel's Messiah with the Zeeland Civic Chorus. This all-volunteer group of over a hundred members has been performing this great piece of music for sixty-eight years. Thanks to a friend of Henry's, he was invited to join the group this year, and then he invited me. While initially I was a little leery of giving up my Sunday afternoon naps, it has proven to be a rewarding experience.

The last time I performed this music, I was a student at Cedarville College, back in--a long, long time ago. I was also singing the alto part--I'm not sure why. So I do have to remind myself, especially on "And the Glory" for some reason, that I'm singing soprano now. I'm so glad that I've participated in this. It's been wonderful to stretch myself and use my singing abilities to perform this beautiful piece of music.

I love how Handel has composed the movement of the music to reflect the words. In "All We Like Sheep," all four parts go astray in their own,seemingly mindless, way until the end of the piece where the music takes a sudden somber tone, until the four parts suddenly come together to sing, "And the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." In "And with His Stripes," the music seems to be indicating the slashing sounds of the whip on Jesus' back. And then there's the beautiful grandeur of "Worthy Is the Lamb" that nearly brings me to tears, especially when I had the thought the last time I was singing it that I couldn't begin to imagine music to honor the Lord more beautiful than this--and yet heaven's music will be even more glorious.

We have dress rehearsals tomorrow night and next Monday night for our two performances: Thursday, December 6, at First Zeeland CRC, 7:30 p.m. and Tuesday, December 11, at Central CRC in Holland, 7:30 p.m. I can think of no better way to celebrate Christmas than with this music. Come sing with me!

A Prayer

An author whose unpublished manuscript I'm currently reviewing for publication quotes this beautiful prayer by Martin Luther in his book:

Lord Jesus, You are my righteousness, I am your sin. You took on you what was mine; you set on me what was yours. You became what you were not, that I might become what I was not.